The TV/Radio blog features behind-the-scenes coverage of Atlanta’s stations, along with the hottest new TV shows.

Radio briefs: Steve Harvey in Radio Hall of Fame, Ray Mariner, Drake tops Atlanta radio

Steve Harvey won two Daytime Emmys. His right-hand man Rushion McDonald accepted the awards in his place. This photo is from 2012. CREDIT: Vino Wong vwong@ajc.com

By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Monday, July 11, 2016

Part-time Atlantan and TV/radio host Steve Harvey is being inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame later this year. He will be joined by talk show host Michael Savage and syndicated music dedication host Delilah.

Harvey came into entertainment as a stand-up comic, then starring in his own sitcom. He started his radio show in 2000 during the run of his sitcom, but it was heard only in Dallas and Los Angeles for several years. He moved to Atlanta in the late 2000s, just as his book “Think Like a Man” was taking off. Since then, he became a hugely popular game show host (“Family Feud”) and his own daytime talk show.

Silas “SiMan” Alexander, Majic afternoon host, said he admires how Harvey has leveraged his huge radio audience to build other aspects of his career, from books to his annual Neighborhood Awards (now back in Las Vegas this year.).

“Smart business move,” SiMan said. “He maintains that base. He told me when I was interviewing him on Classic Soul 102.5 before he came on in Atlanta, ‘The way to win in radio is to do the unexpected.’ Some people like Steve are more accomplished at doing that than others. But I remember those words. I have nothing but love and respect for Steve. I’m proud of him. I’m continuing to enjoy watching him on his journey.”

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Ray Mariner is left Atlanta after more than a decade on radio in 2014. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

Ray Mariner, former Star 94 host, has returned to the record label side.

He will be Warner Music Nashville as the new West Coast regional promotion manager and moving to Denver.

Mariner left Star 94 in 2012 with no public explanation, splitting from his morning co-host Cindy Simmons, who stayed on the station at the time. They were very successful for several years as afternoon hosts together but didn’t do quite as well after moving to mornings in 2009. He then tried to be a sports talk host at 680 and 93.7/The Fan for a year.

In 2014, he left for New Orleans to become operations manager and program director at Cumulus Radio.

Before radio, he spent 10 years at Columbia Records as a promotions manager.

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Drake’s “One Dance” has been No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and not surprisingly is the most played song on Atlanta radio this week.